Avian Flu Threatens Kangaroo Island Birds | Adelaide News

Adelaide News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 21, 2026 · 1m

Mass bird die-offs linked to H5N1 avian flu are rocking remote South Australian islands, with over a thousand crested terns perishing and a potential case involving a little penguin under investigation. The state is now weighing a vaccination program for vulnerable species like penguins, as tourism-dependent communities brace for ecological and economic fallout. Amid years of environmental trauma—from bushfires to algal blooms—residents are weary but hopeful, while tour operators warn that losing these birds could devastate their livelihoods and the island’s appeal. Vaccine development is…